Winding-indicator.



P. RAVIGNEAUX.

WINDING INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1909.

1,035,104. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

POL RAVIGNEAUX, OF NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

WINDING-INDICATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, POL RAVIGNEAUX, a citizen of the Republic of France,residing at 3 Rue du Midi, Neuilly-sur'Seine, in the Republic of France,engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in andRelating to Winding-Indicators, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to winding indicators and has for its object toprovide a device for showing at any instant the amount by which a watchor clock spring is unwound from its fully wound position. This object isaccomplished by means of two rotating indicating members, one of whichis fixed on the spindle of the barrel, and the other is connected toboth the spindle and the barrel by a gear train, this train being suchthat the relative movement between the two indicating members is at mostone turn during the relative motion of several turns of the barrel andthe spindle both on a complete winding and a complete unwinding of thebarrel spring. With this combination it is possible to reduce the numberof the gear-wheels .and the members controlling the indicating elementsto a very small one. The mechanism is also rendered much more compactand there is a reduction in the cost.

Several ways in which the invention may be carried into efiect are shownby way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is anelevation of a primary form of the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 show afurther modification in end elevation and longitudinal section; Fig. 4is a sectional elevation of a further modification; Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic view of a clock face; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammaticfront elevations of the indicating members.

In the form shown in Fig. l, the pointer 1 is fixed to the barrelspindle 3, and the dial 2 to the hub of a wheel 4, which runs loosely onthe spindle. The wheel 4 engages with the wheel 5 which revolves freelyon a spindle 6, mounted on the barrel 7 which contains the ordinary mainspring. As the spring is well-known and forms no part of my invention,it has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same. While the wheel 5is thus carried round by the r0- tation of the barrel, it is at the sametime connected to the barrel spindle 3 by a wheel Specification ofLetters Patent.

Application filed August 19, 1909.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 513,686.

8, fixed to the wheel 5, and a wheel 9 fixed to the spindle 3.

WVhen the spindle 3 is turned in order to wind the barrel spring, thepointer 1 turns with it, the dial 2 also turns but at a difierent speed,the proportion of the wheels 9, 8, 5, 1, being so chosen that if thespindle 3 be turned through the number of revolutions corresponding tothe complete winding of the spring, the dial 2 turns through a numbergreater or less by one than the above, so that the motion of the pointer1 relatively to the dial 2, takes place in a certain direction, and isat most equal to one revolution.

While the spring unwinds, the spindle 3 the pointer 1 being fixed, thetrain of wheels 9, 8, 5, 1, causes the dial 2 to turn through the sameportion of a revolution in the opposite direction to the previousrelative motion. Consequently, if an index be provided on the dial, theangular dis tance between the pointer and this index will alwaysindicate the amount by which the barrel spring is unwound from itsfully- Wound position.

Let m be a number equal to, or greater than the number of revolutions ofthe spindle 3, required to fully wind the spring.

If the barrel be considered. fixed (on winding) the gearing causes oneof the members of the indicator to make m-f-l revolutions while theother makes mrevolutions when revolving together with the barrelspindle. The same gearing causes one of the members of the indicator tomake one turn while the barrel makes in turns, the other memberremaining fixed to the spindle. In any case, this gearing produces arelative displacement of one turn between the members of the indicator,while a relative displacement of m turns takes place between the barreland the spindle.

In the device shown in Fig. 2 the ordinary Wheels are replaced byspecial parts 15, 16, 17, 16 being an eccentric disk fixed to thebarrel. The wheel 17 having a toothed circumference and a concentrichole is fitted on the disk 16, and the wheel 15 which is toothedinternally runs loose on the spindle 3. The wheel 17 is also providedwith a radial slot in which works a pin 18 fixed rel.- atively to thespindle 3. The wheels 17 and 15 engage with each other, the number ofteeth on one being less than that on the other, for example, by one.When the spindle 3 is at rest, the rotation of the barrel 7 and theeccentric 16 causes the wheel 17 to roll inside the wheel 15 and sincethe pin 18 prevents the wheel 17 from turning on its own axis, the wheel15 is caused to advance one tooth at each revolution of the barrel. Ifon the contrary, the spindle 3 turns in the same direction, the effectis similar to that produced by a movement of the barrel relatively tothe spindle in a direction opposite to the above, so that the effect ofthe gearing remains the same.

It is possible to simplify the form shown by Fig. 1. The ratio of thespeeds of the two members 1 and 9. on winding being j it differs littlefrom unity, and thus the number of the teeth on the wheels 5 and 8 maydiffer only slightly from each other or may even be made equal. In thelatter case, the wheels 5 and 8 may be replaced by one wheel 19 (seeFig. 1) large enough to engage with both the wheels 1 and 9, one ofwhich has one tooth or a few teeth more than the other. This device isnot only simpler than that shown in Fig. 1, but also occupies lessspace, thus allowing it to be more easily placed in a watch or othermechanism.

In some cases, the usual construction of the clock-work may be modifiedto allow of locating the indicating device in the nicest position.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically, for instance, a small traveling clockwith alarm in which, by means of the modification of the usual positionof the barrel the winding indicator could be put at 87 symmetricallywith the alarm dial 38, with respect to the vertical axes of the maindial 89, and beneath the latter.

In the methods of construction described above the gear wheels havenormal teeth suitable for transmitting continuous movements of rotation.Other gearing with blank teeth or the like can however also be used.

The indicating device may also contain a member the path of which islimited so as to stop the movement of the winding spindle when thespring is wound up in the same way as in known stopping devices.

The members of the indicator may have any preferred shape. In generalone of them will be in the form of a pointer and the other in the formof a dial provided with divisions or with markings of any shape orcolor, such for example as indicated by hatched lines in Figs. 6, 7 and8.

As the position of the dial is essentially variable,it is useful to makea clear difference between the Zone in which the pointer is enabled tomove and the Zone in which it is forbidden to move. For that purpose,the

marks will be of a different color as at 47 and 48 in Fig. 6; in thisway, a glance will be sufficient to show the degree of removal of thepointer from its extreme positions.

In the. mechanisms to be applied to watches, for instance, the verysmall size of the dial renders it difficult to put a graduation in placeor to read the figures in case the latter should be put on the smallrevolving dial; under such conditions, in order to see whether thepointer is near to the one or the other of its extreme posi tions, itrequires reflection and the remembrance of the direction of the rotationof the pointer relatively to the dial, and in practice, although thearrangement is usually such that the pointer turns with respect to thedial, there arises a difficulty which would not present itself were thedial to be fixed. To surmount such difficulty, a division will again bemade as at 48 and 48 in Fig. 7 of one of the zones into two parts whichwill be colored differently; or the two ends of the said zone will begiven appearances sufficient to prevent confusion between the extremepositions of the pointer (see Fig. 8). This dial may be placed in frontof the dial of the clock work, or preferably in an opening in the saiddial (Fi 2) or in any other convenient place.

If the revolving dial of the indicatoris to be enameled, itsconstruction and adjustment will be facilitated by providing the metaldisk forming the back of the dial, with raised borders (e9, 50, Fig. 1)on the circumference and round the central hole, and by melting theenamel between these borders. The dial can thus be made a tight fit onthe spindle without cracking the enamel.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advan tages of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device indicating the unwinding of the spring in clock-work,comprising a spring box and barrel shaft, a first index fixed on one ofsaid last named members, an eccentric spindle fixed to the other of saidmembers, a second index revolving concentrically to the'first index, asatellite member turning on said eccentric spindle, and means adapted toconnect both of said indexes to the said satellite member.

2. A device indicating the unwinding of a spring in clock-works,comprising the combination of a spring box and a winding up shaft, aprimary indicating member secured to the shaft, a second indicatingmember revolving concentrically to the shaft, and a train ofepicycloidal elements comprising a central wheel secured to the shaft, acentral wheel secured to the second revolving indicating member andhaving a number of teeth slightly different from the number of teeth ofthe first central wheel, a planet carrying stud secured to the barreland a planetary pinion on the said stud, the said pinion meshing at thesame time with both the central wheels.

3. A device indicating the unwinding of the spring in clock-works,comprising the combination of a spring box and a winding up shaft, aprimary indicating member secured to the shaft, a second indicatingmember revolving concentrically to the shaft, and a train of wheelswhereby such second indicatin member is connected at the same time wlththe shaft and with the barrel, such second indicating member consistingof a dial composed of a metal back having borders so arranged as to forman annular cup and of an enamel crown in the said cup.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing, as my invention, I have signedmy name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

POL RAVIGNEAUX.

Witnesses:

H. C. COKE, MAURICE Roux.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for Ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G."

